ABOVE: A contingent of Moravian College undergraduates address students at Nitschmann Middle School on Oct. 1, discussing their backgrounds, majors, sports, activities and reasons they chose to attend Moravian. The event kicked off a yearlong partnership between the two educational institutions.

Nitschmann Middle School Celebrates ‘Team Moravian’

Kickoff Event Begins Yearlong Partnership Between Middle School and College

Nitschmann Middle School’s library served as the kickoff site for the second annual partnership event on Oct. 1, celebrating the 64 sixth-grade students and their teachers who will be known as “Team Moravian” for the 2013-2014 academic year. A special partnership between Moravian College and Nitschmann, coordinated by Camie Modjadidi of the Education Department, aims to inspire the sixth-graders to begin thinking and planning for college even as they are beginning their middle school careers.

“By helping the students of Team Moravian realize the possibility of attending college early on, Moravian hopes to help them establish the motivation and dedication it takes to succeed,” explained Megan Doran ’14, a middle level certification candidate conducting a pre-student teaching field experience at Nitschmann.

The sixth-graders engaged in a discussion of what they already know and what they want to learn about Moravian throughout the year ahead. Students then watched two short presentations, one that shared slides from last year’s campus events and a second that introduced students to Moravian’s academics and extra-curricular programs.

Dr. Joseph Shosh, chair of the Education Department, thanked the scholar-athlete panel, noting, “This morning you helped a whole new generation of young people think for the first time in their lives what it means to go to college. How impressive for these young folks to see that Moravian inspired you to leave family and friends in Long Island, New Jersey, York, and even the University of Delaware to attend college so close to their own homes and middle school.”

The event concluded with everyone participating in a Moravian cheer before enjoying Moravian sugar cake, which was washed down with chocolate milk. “Thank you again, Moravian College, for your consistent and supportive relationship for our students. You certainly are exuding incredible Hound spirit!” remarked Peter Mayes, the principal at Nitschmann Middle School.

On Friday morning, Oct. 11, Nitschmann Middle School students and teachers will tour the Moravian Main Street campus and eat lunch in the HUB dining hall. This school year, Nitschmann students will participate in a Moravian science day, an arts day, a field day and more.

“I am speaking on behalf of the other student-athletes when I say we had a truly valuable experience sharing our Moravian stories with the Nitschmann students,” added Blair, president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. “It’s a great day to be a hound.”

Inside Moravian is an internal newsletter produced every week during the academic year by Tommy Kopetskie, editor, and the Office of Public Relations. Send your news, comments, story ideas, etc. to news@moravian.edu.